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Council plans new £10m dementia nursing home

KINGSTON Council has agreed to invest £10.29m into a new specialist dementia nursing home in the borough.

It is anticipated that the 80-bed residential facility will open in 2020, subject to consultation and planning approval.

Councillor David Glasspool, chair of Kingston Council’s Treasury Committee, said: “The council currently relies on the private sector market to provide most of the bed-based care to meet care needs.

“The new purpose built home will not only meet the specific needs of people with dementia, it will help the council save money in relation to caring for these elderly residents.”

It is estimated that over 2,100 Kingston residents will be diagnosed with dementia by the year 2027: a rise of 40 per cent from the existing number of people in the borough who are believed to have the condition.

“I am delighted that members of the council’s treasury committee voted unanimously to approve the funding for this specialist facility,” said Councillor Cathy Roberts, portfolio holder for Adult Social Care and Health at Kingston Council.

“It is a significant milestone in its delivery and moves Kingston closer to becoming a dementia friendly community.”